Dragon Fruit Flowers & Fruit Development

Ovary: The ovary is a part of the female reproductive organ of the flower. Specifically, it is the part of the pistil which holds the ovules. The mature, ripened ovary of the flower is called the fruit.

Petal: Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators.

Stigma: The stigma, together with the style and ovary (typically called the stigma-style-ovary system) comprises the pistil, which is part of the female reproductive organ of a plant. The stigma receives pollen and it is on the stigma that the pollen grain germinates. Often sticky, the stigma is adapted in various ways to catch and trap pollen with various hairs, flaps, or sculpturings. The pollen may be captured from the air (wind-borne pollen), from visiting insects or other animals.

Anther: Anthers are part of the male reproductive system in flowers, and together with the Filament, make up the Stamen. It is here that pollen is produced.

Pollen: Pollen is a powdery substance produced by seed plants. It consists of pollen grains, which produce male gametes (sperm cells).

Filament: The Filament is part of the stamen and is the thin stalk that connects the anthers to the flower.

Style: The style is a narrow, upward extension of the ovary, connecting it to the stigmatic papillae (base of the Stigma). It is through this tube that the germinated pollen travels to the ovary to fertilize the Dragon Fruit seeds.